Why do you think volunteering in the community is good?

What are good places to volunteer and how many hours of volunteering at one place is good enough?

• I want to start volunteering since I have been thinking about what to put on my resume for colleges. I want colleges to think I am well-rounded and from my high school counselor I was advised to start volunteering. I want to volunteer at hopefully fun and fulfilling places. I am already volunteering at a hospital, where else are good places to go to? And also, what are good clubs to join that help the community, or other things that I can do to strengthen my college resume?

• Answer:

  Different colleges and universities have different application processes. Some ask for volunteering hours, some don't. Those that do may want you to fill out a particular form, others will want you to supply letters from the organization confirming your hours, and still others will want you to write a narrative about why you volunteered, what you learned as a part of your experience, why you think volunteering is important, etc., and don't care about number of hours at all. Many universities and scholarship committees are looking for people who have engaged in leadership volunteering activities. Community Service and Volunteering by Teens: How to Find Opportunities http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/teenvolunteers.html Ideas for Leadership Volunteering Activities http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/goldaward.shtml